Sony have announced a rather tempting mid-priced offering in the shape of their new Sony A35 compact camera.
Packing a beefy 16.2-megapixel Exmor APS HD CMOS sensor, the camera employs Sony’s ‘Translucent Mirror Technology’ and serves up high-speed, full-time continuous auto-focus with stills and AVCHD movies.
The camera lets snappers bag full-frame photos at a speedy rate of 5.5fps and can keep on bagging those beauts for 18 jpeg to 6 Raw snaps, or hit the giddy heights of 7fps with a new Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting mode.
ISO expands from 100 -12800, and there’s a slew of the usual scene modes on board including Retro Photo, High-key, Toy Camera and Posterisation.
There’s no optical viewfinder with this fella, with the Sony α35 offering an integrated Xtra Fine EVF with 1.15 million dots and 100% frame coverage, and the camera is compatible with 32 A-mount lenses.
Weighing in at 415 grams, the α35 is set to hit the shelves this August with the 18-55mm kit zoom priced at around $700, and the body only $600.
Sony Press Release
Sony introduces α35 (SLT-A35) with Full-time Continuous AF powered by Translucent Mirror Technology
Light, compact camera with 16.2 effective megapixels and new in-camera ‘Picture Effect’
16.2 effective megapixels Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor
Exclusive Translucent Mirror Technology by Sony for high- speed, full-time continuous AF with stills and AVCHD movies
Up to 7fps in Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting mode with approximately 1.4x magnification
Ultra-high quality, low noise images with up to ISO 12800
In-camera ‘Picture Effect’ enhances stills or HD videoLight, compact and easy to use, the new α35 (SLT-A35) by Sony brings pro-style shooting speeds and generous creative options to photographers of all abilities.
As introduced on the acclaimed α33 and α55, Translucent Mirror Technology by Sony allows high-speed shooting with responsive, accurate continuous autofocus – whether you’re shooting stills or Full HD movies.
Making its debut on the α35, Tele-zoom High Speed Shooting magnifies a central portion of the image area to give an effective approximately 1.4x magnification while you shoot at up to 7 fps. Providing continuous tracking autofocus of still or moving objects, it’s ideal for capturing fast-moving sports, children’s faces or distant subjects with a high-speed burst of frames. There’s also a rapid 5.5 fps drive mode that offers full-resolution continuous shooting with tracking AF.
With a resolution of 16.2 effective megapixels, the newly-developed Exmor™ APS HD CMOS sensor delivers stunningly detailed, low-noise still and HD video images. Complementing the sensor’s extremely high resolution and sensitivity, the powerful BIONZ processor cleans and optimises image data to assure flawless images with rich, natural colour reproduction. With a maximum sensitivity of ISO 12800, it’s possible to capture beautifully natural still images and HD video in low light where other cameras struggle.
Advanced Quick AF Live View continuously displays a real-time output from the main image sensor during still- or Full HD video shooting. Light is partially directed from the translucent mirror to an AF sensor to permit non-stop precision TTL phase-detection autofocus – a benefit that’s not possible with traditional DSLR cameras.
Whether you’re shooting stills or AVCHD video, you’ll enjoy a superbly detailed view on the high-quality Xtra Fine LCD. TruBlack technology assures high-contrast images with rich, deep blacks – even if you’re shooting outside.
The high-resolution Tru-Finder offers a precision alternative to framing shots on the camera’s LCD. Offering an extremely detailed, high contrast image with full 100% field coverage, it’s ideal for live preview of picture effects and exposure adjustments. Accurate composition of landscapes, architecture and other scenes is enhanced by switchable grid lines.
Aside from its powerful imaging possibilities, the α35 is refreshingly accessible, even for photographers stepping up to their first interchangeable lens camera. The on-screen Help Guide gives a clear explanation of selected functions and how they’re used.
More advanced photographers, meanwhile, will welcome the top panel-mounted customisable button that allows instant recall of any of 14 frequently-used functions.
The α35 offers a new in-camera ‘Picture Effect’ setting that lets users add extra impact to stills or HD video during shooting, without the worry of editing images afterwards. Effects can be previewed on the camera screen, allowing photographers to see the result of a chosen effect instantly rather than post-shooting. The inspiring palette of artistic treatments includes Retro Photo, High-key, Toy Camera and Posterisation.
It’s also easy to produce dramatic Partial Colour effects, with a single colour picked out against the rest of the image in monochrome. This popular effect normally takes a series of painstaking steps to achieve with photo editing software: with the α35 it’s both automatic and instant.
Refinements in power consumption now boost the camera’s shooting stamina to a generous 440 still shots (approx. when using the rear LCD panel) between battery charges – that’s a 30% increase over its predecessor. The α35 is compatible with the full range of 32 A-mount interchangeable lenses from Sony that includes six Carl Zeiss lenses.
The new α35 digital camera with Translucent Mirror Technology by Sony is available from August 2011.
